Golf putting game



p 1968 F. B. SHEPHERD 3,399,899

GOLF PUTTING GAME Filed Oct. 18, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 KFueJ Fig. 2

INVENTOR. FRANK B. SHEPHERD BY vdw m, M m

ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1968 F. B. SHEPHERD GOLF PUTTING GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 o 0 o 6 6 6 w w x a M A w. e 4 a 0/0 /O m 4 4 4 2 2 O 2 4 4 2 i I I I i t f I ll A w ,w x w INVENTOR.

FRANK B. SHEPHERD MM,MM

ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1968 F. B. SHEPHERD GOLF PUTTING GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 4- Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTOR. FRANK b.- SHEPHERD BY 76m 1%, M wwfi ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,3s9,s99 GOLF PUTTING GAME Frank B. Shepherd, 4788 Ranch Lane, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 48013 Filed Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 497,034 Claims. (Cl. 273-176) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Simulated putting green has a number of tape measures mounted around its periphery. Data tabs instruct that particular pairs of tapes be extended specified distances over the playing surface. Adjacent tapes are swung toward each other; and where they intersect, a ball is spotted. The procedure is repeated for each player, and putting proceeds in the usual manner. The cup is movable to a number of locations in the playing surface.

The object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, simulated putting green structure improved so that it is adapted to use by one to four participants under such varying conditions as might be found on actual golf greens. Such varying conditions include location of the cup, slope of the putting surface, and the distance of the participants ball from the cup.

In general, the invention contemplates the use of a panel supported on a frame having extensible legs for adjusting the slope of the playing surface. The playing surface is provided by a cover of carpeting or the like which simulates the texture of bent grass. The cover and underlying panel each have a number of openings which are closed by plugs, the plugs being selectively removable to simulate various positions of the cup in the green. The emplaced plugs serve to secure the playing surface in proper position relative to reference points on the panel. Tape measures or the like are provided for measuring distances from these reference points; and a number of chips are provided, each bearing reference numerals and other indicia in accordance with which the tapes are used to accurately spot golf balls at various locations on the playing surface. Other structural details appear in the subsequent description. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic top plan view of a simulated putting green according to this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly diagrammatic, sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the cover providing the playing surface removed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partly diagrammatic, sectional view on line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a data-bearing chip.

FIG. 6 is a partly diagrammatic, top plan view of a supporting frame for the putting green.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, generally perspective view illustrating a joint between certain frame members.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partly diagrammatic, sectional view on line 88 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of a corner joint between peripheral frame members.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, generally perspective view of a side joint between certain frame members.

FIG. 11 is a generally perspective view of a tape measure and a portion of a swivel mount therefor.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a wrench for adjusting the height of the frame legs.

Shown in the drawings is a simulated putting green according to the present invention. The green includes a supporting frame 22 (FIG. 6) mounted on legs 24 (FIG. 8), the frame supporting a panel 26 made of a suitable ice relatively rigid material such as plywood. A cover 28 is laid over the panel, and this cover is made of a material such as carpeting which simulates the bent grass surface'of an actual putting green.

Frame 22. is substantially square in shape and includes four peripheral members 30, 32, 34, and 36 hinged together at the corners of the square as at 38. Members 30 and 34 have hinged midportions 40 and 42 respectively. The corner and side hinges are arranged so that the frame members swing inwardly from the open, solid-line position of FIG. 6 to the nested or folded, dotted-line position.

Frame 22 also includes a number of cross members 44, 46, and 48 having projections 50 at their ends which fit snugly but detachably within recesses 52 in side mem bers 30, 34. The projections and recesses are vertically tapered (FIG. 7) to facilitate vertical insertion and removal of projections 50 from recesses 52. A butterfly latch 54 releasably locks each end of members 4448 to frame members 30, 34. In the erected condition of the frame shown in solid lines (FIG. 6), members 44-48, in addition to providing support for panel 26, also provide struts preventing the peripheral frame members from folding inwardly.

Each frame leg 24 comprises a bolt 56 threaded through a nut 58 supported within a vertical opening 60 in one of the frame members (FIG. 8). The nut is secured to a mounting plate 62 as by welding, and the mounting plate is fastened to the frame member by screws 64. Each leg has a swiveled foot plate 66 for engaging a floor 68 or other supporting surface. Legs 24 may be extended out of their respective openings to a desired extent by means of a wrench 70 (FIG. 12) having a hexagon socket 72 for engagement with a hexagon head 74 on leg 56. A dowel 76 closes the upper end of each opening 60, and this dowel also fits within an opening 78 in panel 26. By this means, dowels 76 secure panel 26 against shifting laterally on frame 22. Dowels 76 are preferably provided with openings 80 to facilitate their removal from the frame and panel openings by a suitable tool such as a hook 82 on handle 84 of wrench 70.

As illustrated in the drawings, a leg 24 and associated structure is located adjacent each corner of the frame and generally adjacent a midportion of each side of the frame. Openings 60 are displaced somewhat from hinged connections 38, 40, 42 to avoid interference therewith. While not specifically shown, it will be apparent that openings 60 and associated leg structure can be provided at other locations in both the peripheral frame members 30-36 and struts 44-48.

In a typical structure according to the present invention, frame 22 and panel 26 are about 16' square, and it is thus preferable to make the frame foldable, as described above. For the same purpose, panel 26 is shown as comprising two members 86 and 88, each of which is hinged at 90 so that it can be folded to one-fourth the size of the overall panel.

When panel sections 86 and 88 are unfolded and placed over frame 22 in unfolded position, the two panel sections adjoin one another at 94 (FIG. 3). Assembly of the panel to the frame is completed by inserting dowels 76 within aligned panel openings 78 and frame openings 60. Panel members 86 and 88 are provided with slots 96 and 98 which clear wing latches 54.

Panel 26 is provided with a number of openings 100 diameter-ed to receive a cup 102 having the same size as an actual putting green cup. Adjacent each opening 100 is a recessed shoulder 104 (FIGS. 2, 4) which receives an outward flange 106 by which the cup is supported within opening 100. The cup has an upper lip 108 which is disposed slightly below the upper surface of cover 28 which provides the playing surface 110. Cover 28 has a number of openings 112 diametered to surround upper lip 108 of the cup.

In use, all openings 100, 112 except that one containing cup 102 are closed by plugs 114 (FIG. 4), each having a portion 116 which fits within panel opening and an upper carpet portion 118 which fits within cover opening 112. Each plug has an intermediate flange 120 which rests on recessed shoulder 104.

The portions of cover 28 adjacent openings 112 extend over flanges 106 and 120 respectively of cup 100 and plug 114 to secure them in place on supporting shoulders 104. Cover material 28 and the material of plug portion 118 are in close contact to provide a substantially smooth, uninterrupted surface across openings 112. Cover 28 is secured against lateral shifting or creeping on panel 26 by means of plugs 114.

Cover 28 is smaller than panel 26, e.g., about 12' square for a panel 16' square. The side portions 122 of panel 26 which extend outwardly of cover 28 are divided into two areas which are given separate designations, as by colored circles (FIGS. 1, 3). A tape measure 124 having a swivel mount is provided adjacent the edge of each corner of the panel and adjacent the edge of the midpoint of each side of the panel. With this arrangement, each color-designated area on the panel is flanked by a pair of tape measures.

Each tape is contained in a conventional housing 126 to which a pintle 128 has been added which swivels in an opening 130 in a block 132 or 134 secured to portions of the peripheral frame members respectively at the corners and sides of the frame by means such as bolting (not shown). Tape housings 126 are depressed below the top of panel 26 with only their tape slots above the upper surface of panel 26 so that the tapes can be extended across the playing surface. The tapes conveniently are of the type which can be spring retracted by pushing a release button 135 thereon. Each tape has a looped end 136 which loosely contains a ring 138.

A number of data-bearing chips are provided, each having a portion 142 colored corresponding to one of the colored circles on panel 26. Each chip is also provided with two numerals which correspond to the distances to which the two tapes 124 flanking the indicated colored area are to be extended.

In use, it may be assumed that frame 22 has been assembled in the solid-line position of FIG. 6 and that legs 24 have been extended as required to provide the putting green with a desired slope. Panel 26 has been installed on the frame by means of dowels 76, and cover I 28 has been placed upon the panel. One plug 114 has been removed and a cup 100 installed in the resulting opening. Each of one to four participants in the game draws a chip 140.

For convenience, it may be assumed that the upper number on each chip refers to a corner tape. A participant extends the two tapes flanking his colored area and swings the tapes about their swivel mounts to angular positions in which their rings 138 can be superposed on one another. The rings are then placed on the playing surface and thereby define the spot where the participants ball is to be placed on the playing surface. The other players then use the tapes flanking their colored areas to locate their golf balls on their respective ballspotting areas.

Respective locations of the four golf balls are illustrated in FIG. 1 at B and at the location of superposed rings 138. Putting then proceeds in the normal manner, the player farthest from the cup putting first. Scores are kept in the usual manner, one stroke being counted for each putt. In the event that the location of spotting rings 138 coincides with the location of cup 100, the player is credited with having sunk his approach shot.

When the players have putted out, each draws another chip and spots his ball in the indicated ball-spotting area by the process described above. The spotting and putting out may be repeated, for example, 9 or 18 times, to simulate the putting in a round of golf.

From the above description, it will be seen that the locations at which tape measures 124 are mounted on panel 26 are reference positions with respect to which the golf balls are spotted or located on the playing surface. The tape measures and numerals on chips 140 provide a two-coordinate system by which the golf balls are accurately positioned. It will be apparent that other twocoordinate systems could be used; for example, one in which a protractor could be drawn on an extending portion 122 of panel 26 (lower left corner of FIG. 1) with the axis of pintle 28 as its center so that the angular position of a tape 124 would be one coordinate and the distance to which the tape is extended would be the other. Playing surface 110 is secured against shifting relative to the reference position by plugs 114.

The position of cup 100 in the playing surface can be changed merely by removing a plug 114, substituting the cup for the removed plug, and using the removed plug to close the opening left by the previous position of the cup. Thus, by the use of a number of chips 140 for each color-designated, ball-spotting area and the provision for moving the cup, a large number of different putting situations can be provided. The variety of situations is further increased by the fact that legs 24 can be adjusted to vary the slope of the playing surface.

What is claimed is:

1. A golf putting game comprising,

means providing a rectangular panel having a rectangular playing surface which simulates a putting green upon which a golf ball can roll,

said playing surface having an opening at a predetermined location to simulate a cup in a putting green,

eight extensible and retractable measuring tapes, four of which are mounted adjacent the corners of said panel and four of which are mounted adjacent the sides of said panel between said corners,

said tapes having mounts which include swivels so that when said tapes are extended over said playing surface, they can be swung to selected angular positions,

means indicating on said playing surface eight ballspotting areas, each flanked by a pair of tapes,

a plurality of data chips, each bearing an indication of one of said ball-spotting areas, and each bearing two ball-locations coordinate numerals, one numeral for each of the tapes flanking the indicated area,

each pair of tapes being extensible to distances corresponding to the coordinate numerals on chips representing the area flanked thereby,

the tapes of each pair having end portions which are superposable upon the included ball-spotting area when the tapes of said pair are so extended, whereby to accurately indicate a ball position relative to said simulated cup.

2. A golf-putting game comprising,

means providing a panel having a playing surface which simulates a putting green upon which a golf ball can roll,

said playing surface having an opening at a predetermined location into which a ball may drop to provide a simulated cup,

measuring means provided with lineal distance indications,

said measuring means being swingably secured to said panel and having portions which can be swung to selected angular positions over said playing surface,

said measuring means being effective in selected angular positions thereof over said playing surface and at selected lineal distance indications thereon to define golf ball spotting locations on said surface preselected with respect to the location of said openand data means including indicia instructions for positioning said measuring means to so define said preselected golf ball spotting locations,

said measuring means comprising a single measuring element, said panel being provided with protractor means by which said element is selectively angularly positioned.

3. A golf putting game comprising,

means providing a panel having a cover which simulates a putting green upon which a golf ball can roll,

said cover and panel having a plurality of openings,

each of which is closed by a plug,

each plug having portions which fit into the panel and cover,

said plugs being selectively removable to provide at selected locations on said playing surface a simulated cup into which a ball may drop,

said plugs providing a plurality of dowels which secure said cover against lateral shifting relative to said panel,

measuring means provided with lineal distance indications, said measuring means being swingably secured to said panel and having portions which can be swung to selected angular positions over said playing surface,

said measuring means being effective in selected angular positions thereof over said playing surface and at selected lineal distance indications thereon to define golf ball spotting locations on said surface preselected with respect to the location of said simulated cup,

and data means including indicia instructions for positioning said measuring means to so define said preselected golf ball spotting locations.

4. A golf putting game comprising,

means providing a panel having a playing surface which simulates a putting green upon which a golf ball can roll,

said playing surface having an opening at a predetermined location into which a ball may drop to provide a simulated cup,

a plurality of pairs of measuring elements swingably secured to said panel and having portions which can be swung to selected angular positions over said playing surface,

said elements each having distance indications thereon,

each of said pairs of elements having such a length that they intersect at different points over said playing surface at different relative angular positions thereof for different combinations of lineal distance indications thereon respectively,

the points of intersection defining golf ball spotting locations on said surface preselected with respect to the location of said opening,

means being provided to define a ball spotting area on said playing surface for each of said pairs of elements,

and data means which include pairs of numerals reflecting said respective lineal distance indications, said data means including for each of said pairs of numerals an indication of one of said ball-spotting areas.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 wherein each of said measuring elements comprises a retractable tape measure, each of which is extensible over said playing surface selectively to distances which comprise said selected lineal distance indications.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,403,345 1/1922 Orr 273176 1,470,117 10/1923 MacR-ae 273176 1,732,574 10/1929 Brown et al. 27317'6 3,260,526 7/1966 Seitz 273134 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

